Carlos Rettire's POV
The elaborate work that went into getting Susan and I out of District Thirteen was very annoying to take part in. From the reaping, they took us to these strange offices, where our families come in and visit us. I got a visit from my father, my only living relative. He was very brief, telling me that the life I was living was something I had to grow out of. And then he left.
It was followed by a painstaking walk to the hovercraft pad, which was on the other side of the district complex. It took forever, and when we stopped, my legs felt like jelly. We then had to get on a hovercraft, which took us to District Twelve, where they had a train waiting for us. The poverty we saw was horrible, and we blamed the Capitol for it. That's how District Thirteen children are raised.
By now, Susan and I had made a long trip that was about to get longer. At least the train ride would provide some comfort for this leg. We stepped in and the door slid shut behind us.
We aren't underfed in Thirteen, but the food here seems so much nicer than the bland rations we are given. I grab a lemon tart from a tea tray and take a bite. The sweet and tangy flavors invade my mouth and set my brain on fire. It's amazing! I sit down in an armchair.
At that point, I realize I've been rude by acting obliviously to the two others in the train. Our escort, Rudolph, and our mentor from District Five, Barrin wait for me to apologize. I put the tart down and do so immediately. Barrin nods his head and looks at Thirteen's tributes. "A pair of redheads, I see!" he chuckles. "If my knowledge is correct, you are Carlos." He sticks out his hands and I shake it. He then turns to my partner. "And you must be Susan." She shakes his hand as well.
"Now, guys," starts Rudolph. "It's totally up to you if you want to talk strategy with Barrin now." I shake my head and kindly reject the offer, but Susan stares at me, shocked. "How dare you break rules, Carlos!" she fumes. I remember her, the rules freak back at home. It was always entertaining to see her laid back brother tick her off. "I can if I want," I tell her casually. Before I leave the room, I have a good look at the two men who I'll be with for the next few days. Rudolph seems like a pretty normal, laid back escort, which is good. Barrin is very young, only about twenty-four. But being a mentor can really make you look older, and you can see the pain of losing tributes in his eyes. You can see it in every mentor.
My room is nice and cozy, and I feel right at home. The structure of the train is very similar to the way that my district is built. It adds an extra layer of comfort to this alien world. I have a mini fridge filled with drinks and snacks. I pull out a bag of cashews and a can of lemonade before sitting at the window.
Things I've never seen before rush past my eyes. Plants, animals, buildings, the sun and the sky. It's very unfamiliar to someone who has spent their entire life underground. Although I'm probably going to be dead in the next few weeks, I'm taking this as an opportunity to see things that someone from Thirteen won't get to. I don't need a TV. All I need is a window.
Susan Caledon's POV
I'm usually quite shy, but Barrin and I seems to get along better. I'm not sure if it's true, but I think he likes me better than Carlos. I'm still a bit shocked that Carlos broke the rules and refused to talk strategy, but it isn't my problem if he's the first one dead.
Barrin tells me things, a lot of which I don't understand. Growing up in Thirteen really limits your knowledge of the outside world. I really need training in order to succeed in the Games. Barrin's talk mostly passes over my head, so I lie to him and tell him that his tips will help me when we are done.
I walk into my room and sit on a chair in front of the television. I search through all the extra content and find survival guides. I watch them for hours, observing what to do with different things. Unlike Barrin's tips, the visual aspect really helps me begin to understand.
When I begin to feel hungry, I walk back out into the dining area, to find Carlos and Barrin talking strategy, while eating what seems to be roast pork, although I've never seen it in my life. When Carlos invites me to sit down, he confirms that fact and we eat. I love the flavor it has and I devour my serving in seconds. I get up from the table, take a few sweet things and go back to my room.
As I sit in the chair, eating, I think of home. I think of my father, working for our mayor, the one who taught me the ways of rules. I think of my mother, who's barely seen by our family, as she's always busy. But I mostly think of Ted, my twin brother, and how much I actually appreciate his rule breaking personality.
I lick the last bits of sugar and custard from my fingers and tune into Hunger Games TV. They're showing live coverage with this year's Head Gamemaker, Serenity Diamante. They're questioning her about her daughter, a tribute his year. "I assure you that I won't be making things to her advantage," she says. "If anything, I'll only be making it harder for her." Whatever. I don't care.
I scroll through the channels, watching snippets of random shows for a while. Eventually, I get a knock on the door from Rudolph, telling me that we have arrived. As I walk out, I feel the train slow down and stop. Carlos seems amazed by something. "You missed the sight of the Capitol!" he cries. "It was amazing!" I'm not too bothered by it, actually. The trip has shown me how awesome nature is. That's my thing now.
Rudolph clears his throat to get our attention. Our heads whip around to see a corridor. "Remake time!" he says cheerily. Oh no. Looks have never really been my thing. Right now, they're going to be more important than ever. Carlos walks in and I follow him, ready for whatever they throw at me.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter, please review and, well, thanks for your support. Remakes and chariot rides of two districts next.
